Four suspects were charged Saturday with attempting to steal utility wires from areas damaged by the recent St. Louis tornado.
The allegations follow other similar offenses in the aftermath of the May 16 storm, in which individuals were suspected of attempting to steal downed power lines or electrical equipment.
On Saturday, St. Louis prosecutors charged Nicholas Allen, 37, and Daniel Garber, 38, with two charges of first-degree tampering with a utility, a class D felony, and theft of more than $750.
Both suspects are being held in the city justice center pending their initial appearance.
On May 23, St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers saw Allen and Garber attempting to load utility lines into the back of a pickup truck in an alley in the 1300 block of North Euclid Avenue.
Officers discovered that the suspects had still connected the wire from the truck to an Ameren utility pole.
In a second case, Michael Thornton, 44, and Ashley Kirkover, 29, were charged with first-degree tampering with a utility. Police confirm that neither Michael Thornton, 44, nor Ashley Kirkover, 29, have any pending bonds or initial appearances.
Booking photographs for Thornton and Kirkover were not immediately accessible.
On May 23, police responded to a complaint reporting someone cutting cable from a transformer in the 5100 block of Kensington Avenue.
Officers discovered the guy with the transformer on the floor of a van. Police said they acknowledged removing the equipment to sell as junk.
